Clumping Goldenrods

SpicebushJuly 16, 2013

We have a weedy area that is covered with wild asters, goldenrods, blackberries, elderberries, etc and really attracts lots of birds. I love it..but...we have to clear it out because that's where our driveway is going.

My question is which species and cultivars of goldenrod are clumping? I have fought with the spreading kind in my flower beds and I don't want those!

I used to have a goldenrod that I bought called "Laurin" that didn't seem to spread but it apparently died. I have never seen it for sale anywhere since than.

Might add S. juncea. It forms clumps but can also spread a bit via rhizomes, not as much as say S. canadensis. It flowers a little earlier than the others.

If the site has good drainage S. speciosa combined with S. bicolor could prove interesting and well-behaved. Solidago hispida is similar to S. bicolor but has yellow flowers instead of white. We actually have seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) naturalizing along roadsides here because of all the salt they put down. Could be an option next to a driveway or sidewalk that gets salt in the winter.